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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. OVERTON, 0F TBENTON, NEW JERSEY.

RUBBER HEEL-LIFT.

Speclcation of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. e, 191e.

Application and umn 1, 191e. semina. aaaoac.

proved rubber heel or lift, and an object of,

the invention is to provide an improved heel lift of this kind, which is simple, eilicient and practical in construction, the same being so constructed as to lit tighter and closer to the heel than has been accomplished by heel lifters heretofore used.

A further object of the invention is to providean improved resilient web-like insert member embedded in the rubber heel or lift, to insure a springing or yieldable eii'ect, and at the same time to insure rigidity for the rubber body of the heel lift. In v other words, to provide an insert, which will not only allow the rubber body of the heel lift to yield or cushion, but will act to restore or vcause the body to resume its normal shape and condition. For instancerthe lift may be pressed or crushed incident to the weight,' and just so soon-asthc weight or pressure is relieved, the lift will resume its normal shape.

The invention further aims toprovide a rubber heel lift, so constructed and provided with what may be called a double cupping, acting to distribute the tension, whereby a practically and absolutely tight fitti-ng heel lift may be produced. This tight fitting eifect is especlally emphasized at the corners of the heel, particularly owing to the construction of a metal insert andI the provision of the lateral lugs carried by the insert and extending in a 4direction toward the corners of the heel. This provision in the present caseA has been designed, especially in view of the fact that rubber heel lifts heretofore used begin to detach from the leather heel at the corners thereof.

The invention further aims to rovide a rubber heel lift of this kind, w ich will eliminate the very expensive operation of utilizing individual washers upon the washer Eins which has heretofore beenV employed. urthermore, the metallic sprin or yieldable insert can be embedded in t e heel 'lift in one operation, -whereas the utilizing of individual washers requires an operation for each washer.

'In the construction of this rubber heel lift, it is the aim to construct the metallic Gil yieldable insert in order to exactly conform with the face 'of the heel. However, it is the object to position or embed the resilient metallic insert in the body of the heel, so that its face will be substantially equally spaced from one of the faces of the body of the heel, with the exception of where the latgyal lugs extend from the insert. In other words, the spacing of the insert throughout its entire area is uniform relative to one face V.of the body of the lift, but the extension lugs are designed to slope toward the bottom of the heel to within a short distance from the corners of the heel.

While the. design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed A preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes7 and Ghe right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the sco e of what is claimed.

he invention comprises further features and combination of parts as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. y

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heel ortion of a shoe showing appliedf'flto the lhather heel thereof the improved rubber heel lift, but illustrating the fact that the lift is only partially secured.

Fig. `2 is a similar view, showing the rubber heel lift yfirmly and completely secured. v i Fig. l3 is a perspective view of the rubber heel lift showing the upper face thereof.

Fig. is a llongitudinal sectional` view, on line 4-4of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view. on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a. detail view of the insert plate.

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Referring to the drawings 1 designates the body of the heel lift, which may be constructed of any suitable material preferably rubberl orthe like, or a ycomposition thereof, said' body in the present instance is constructed to conform to the shape of the heel of a shoe. It is to he noted that the face 2 of the body is cupped out or concaved upon opposite sides of the center of the lift. These cups or concaves are designated by the numerals 3, andd denotes a longitudinally extending rib intermediate the concaves. By the provision of such a construction and since the edge of the rib is curved, the marginal. edges of the heel lift will closely and tightly fit the underface of the usual leather heel of a shoe. l

The underface 5 of the heel is provided with a plurality of bulges or protuberances 6. The lift is provided with a plurality of openings 7 which receive suitable fastening nileans to secure the lift to the heel of the s oe.

Certain of the openings are formed through the bulges or protuberances, so that when the fastening means are extended through the'openings, the bulges or protuberances will 'substantially flatten out, and

cause the lift to tightly bind to the leather heel. By the provision of these bulges or protuberances, the heel lift does not become cogintersunk to any material extent, when driving the fasteningmeans in place.

Embedded in the body of the heel lift is metallic yieldable insert 8, which, in cross-section, is 'of a shape to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the body of the heel lift. In other words, theebody of the heel lift .in cross-section is" double-arched, and the insert correspondingly conforms to such shape. For instance, the insert has a centrally located V-shaped portion, which conforms tothe ridge of one face of the body'of the lift. This insert is in the form of a web-like plate, which conforms to the contour of the edge of the body of the lift. This plate is provided with a plurality of circular openings 9, 10, and 11, which are located near the marginal portion-of the plate, three at the forward portiony of the plate, one at the rear and one upon each side. The plate is also provided rwith a cen tral portion l2, having a central aperture or opening 13. This central portion 12 is con-l nected to the outer portion of the plate by the radial armslf.' Adjacent the openings .9 and the opening 11 are lugs 15, 16 and 17. The lugs 15 are shaped to conformV and be directed toward the corners of the body of 'the heel, while the lug 16 extends forwardly, and centrally of the body of the yL heel, whereas the lu 17 extends directlyi rearwardly.. By t e provision of these lugs pressureis urged upon the adjacent portions Lampen of the lbody of the' heel so as to cause the body ofthe heel lift to i osely and tightly fit the leather heel of thA shoe.

The openings or apertures 9, 10 and 11 and 13 are designed for the reception of fastening means, whereby the heel lift may be secured to the leather heel of the shoe.

Where the openings or apertures are formed, the insert is provided with enlargements, so 'as to strengthen and. reinforce that portion of the insert through which the fastening means extend, and also to reinforce the body of theheel lift.

The invention' having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is: v

1. As anew article of manufacture, a heel lift comprising a cushion body-havingjsubstantially concavoronvex portions with the concave portions in the attaching 'face of the body, a part of the attaching faced eing raised to separate the concavities in said facev and 'sa-id \concav ities terminating at such part.

2. The".combination with a cushion heel body, of a metallic web-like insert having means extending in various directions to urge pressure on the body near the marginal edge thereof, whereby the body may t closely and tightly against the underface of the leather heel of the shoe, said insert plate havinga plurality of lopenings, the body of the heel lift having openings adjoining the openings of the insert plate and through which may be driven, one face ofthe body of the lift having concaves on opposite sides of the center of the body, the center of the body having a rib, said rib being positioned to divide the concaves, the outer face of the body being provided with. a plurality of protuberances through which certain of the openings of the body are formed.

43. As a vnew'larticle of manufacture,` a heel lift comprising a cushion body having its attaching face provided with a plurality of concavities, the central portion of said face being raised to separate the concavities,

openings fastening means.

said concavities terminating at said raised the. body, said body and insert having a plurality of openings for the reception of' fastenin moans, Garmin of said oponng being chsposed through the lower parts of the plotubomnces.

5. As a new article of manufactme, L cushion heel body having substantially con.- cavo-convex portions in its attaching face, a part of the attaching facs being raised to sepzu'ae the oonczwtie-s in said'faco and said concavties terminating at such portion, the

)n testimony whereof hereunto a'x my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

. JOHN :EL @VERTU-N. YVVitno-ses t EDMUND WHITE, EMMA L. WHITE. 

